Bhubaneswar, Jul 16: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have extended greetings on the occasion of holy Rath Yatra beginning from Thursday.

“On this occasion of the world-renowned Rath Yatra, I extend my heartfelt greetings to the devotees of Lord Sri Jagannath residing in the country and abroad. During this grand festival, the Supreme Lord Sri Jagannath, along with his elder brother Balabhadra, sister Subhadra, and the discus-wielding king Sudarshana, ascends the chariots and unites with the devotees. This festival of the union between devotees and the Divine is rare in the world. On this auspicious occasion, I pray to the Supreme Lord for the happiness and prosperity of the nation and its people. Jai Jagannath,” wrote President Murmu in a post on X.

PM Modi, on his X account, said, "Greetings to everyone on the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra. This is a radiant expression of India's timeless spiritual and cultural heritage. The traditions associated with the Rath Yatra have inspired generations across India and the world. They embody humility, collective participation and selfless service."

Also read: World-Famous Rath Yatra Begins Today in Puri

"May Mahaprabhu Jagannath bless everyone with good health, happiness and prosperity. May He give us strength for all our endeavours and deepen the spirit of togetherness in our society. Jai Jagannath!" he added.

Extending wishes on his ‘X’ handle, HM Shah wrote: “Jai Jagannath! Heartfelt wishes to all on the auspicious occasion of Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra. The world-renowned Jagannath Rath Yatra is a symbol of unwavering faith, trust, and devotion. This sacred Rath Yatra is also celebrated every year in Gujarat with great enthusiasm and joy. I pray to Lord Jagannathji for the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of all.”

In a video message, CM Majhi said, "After a year, the sacred Rath Yatra has returned once again. Lord Jagannath will step out from the Shree Mandir and ascend His majestic chariot to bless the whole humanity. Once again, devotees have the rare and wonderful opportunity to behold Lord Jagannath on His chariot."

"On this sacred occasion, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to everyone and warmly welcome all devotees visiting Puri. Let us participate in the Rath Yatra by abiding by the law and with dedication and enjoy the divine darshan of Lord Jagannath in a disciplined manner," the Chief Minister also added.

Union Minister Pradhan too extended his greetings. “Heartfelt congratulations on the sacred 'Ratha Yatra'. Ratha Yatra is a unique journey that binds the entire human society—irrespective of caste, religion, or creed—with the thread of unity. I pray to Lord Balabhadra, Mother Subhadra, and Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath for the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of all,” he wrote in a post on X.

The holy city of Puri in Odisha is gearing up for the world-famous Ratha Yatra, during which the divine siblings, Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister Devi Subhadra, will embark on their nine-day annual sojourn to the Gundicha Temple from the 12th-century Jagannath Temple on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Odisha Police have put in place dynamic traffic arrangements, keeping in view the inflow and outflow of vehicles visiting Puri to ensure smooth traffic movement.

The police have installed 595 permanent and 1,050 temporary signages for public convenience.

This apart, more than 13,000 police personnel, along with adequate number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), will be deployed for security arrangements during the festival.

The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy will also remain on alert to check any illegal activities through the coastal route.

On the other hand, as many as 19 senior IPS officers have been assigned the duty to supervise the overall security arrangements.

The state government has installed 473 CCTV cameras to keep a watch on the movement of devotees and 65 large LED screens to disseminate important information to devotees in Odia, Hindi and English.

Similarly, 16 permanent mobile towers and several temporary towers have also been set up to strengthen communication services.

Bulk messaging facilities will also be used to disseminate information.

(IANS)